Social Media Updates for September 2016

Keep on top of the latest news, changes, and updates in social media all in one place!

Facestagram...er...Instabook...er...Instagram Business Profiles Are Here!

Facebook continues to add familiar features to Instagram. Now you can set up a Business Profile on Instagram, which has 2 useful features (so far) that make it great for business - you now get some basic analytics on your posts, and it adds a contact button directly to your profile - making customer service even more convenient for your followers (and if you have a physical location, the contact button also brings up directions!).

Instagram Now For Those Of Us With Bad Eyes

Ever had someone post a picture on Instagram with lots of little details, or far away, and you wanted to zoom in but couldn't? Now you can! Zoom in or out on any picture on your phone with the pinch gesture.

Twitter After Dark

Do you check your Twitter feed in the middle of the night? Now Twitter has ‘Night Mode’ which will turn the background dark to reduce eye strain. It will also reduce the annoyance of your bed partner so that they are not wakened by the bright light of your smartphone!

Spice Up Your Twitter Name With Emojis

For years people have been using hacks to insert emojis into profile information - now it is a feature of Twitter to be able to add emojis to your username & bio. I'm pretty sure this has to do with the ability to target Twitter ads to specific emojis, meaning that the ads that show up in our feeds may be more relevant to our interests.

Facebook Enhances Slideshow Ads

If you're wondering why you might use a slideshow ad instead of a video ad, consider that not everyone has access to a good internet connection. A slideshow takes up less bandwidth and will be more likely to play on a bad connection than a video will. And now you can do more with your slideshows: add text and/or music (make sure you have permission to use the music!), use stock photos from Facebook's library (or even better, use your own photos!), and you can create a slideshow out of a video you've uploaded.

Pinterest Advertising Options Hurrying To Compete With Facebook

There are new targeting options available in Pinterest: now you can target based on how a user has previously behaved on Pinterest, and most interestingly, how they have behaved on your Pinterest profile (Facebook does not have this!!). For example, if someone repinned a product from your board, you could later target them in an ad when similar products go on sale. Like Facebook, you can now also create lookalike audiences (though Pinterest calls them ‘actalike audiences’).

LinkedIn Giving More Reach To People Who Are Already Very Famous

You may have noticed videos appearing suddenly in your feed. LinkedIn has teamed up with select influencers who will upload videos talking about relevant news. Perhaps video will roll out to everyone one day?